Steering apparatus for boats.



DJ HIGGINS & J. W. IRONS. STEERING APPARATUS FOR BOATS. APPLICATIONFILED JULY 8, 1910.

983, '7 1 5. Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

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DENNIS HIGGINS AND JOHN W. IRONS, OF NEW ALBIN, IOWA.

STEERING APPARATUS FOR- BOATS.

Application filed July 8, 1910.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1 atented Feb. *7, 1911.

Serial No. 570,955.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DENNIS Hroorns and JOHN Inons, citizens of theUnited States, residing at New Albin, in the county of Allamakee andState of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in SteeringApparatus for Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a steering apparatus for boats, the object ofthe invention being to provide a simple, reliable and quickacting meansfor adjusting the rudder in either direction, which means may be rangedto be operated from either side of the boat without liability of bindingor leaving the rudder in a loose position at any point of movement.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is asection taken longitudinally through the boat and transversely throughthe rock shaft, showing the rudder arm and slotted crank in elevation.Fig. 3 is a detail view of the slotted crank, with the arm of the rockshaft connected therewith. Fig. 4 is a top plan view, showing a modifiedconstruction of the rudder operating mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a boat of any preferred type towhich the invention may be applied; 2 the rudder; 3 the erticallyarranged rudder post or stem journaled upon the boat to permit therudder to swing laterally in either direction and 4 the rudder-operatingarm projecting at right angles from the upper end of the post.

Mounted upon either side of the boat to swing in a directionlongitudinally thereof is an operating lever 5, which is connected by alink 6 with a crank arm 7 on a transversely arranged rock shaft 8journaled in suitable bearings 9. A bolt or pin 10 pivotally connectsthe link 6 with the arm 7 and is adapted to be passed through any one ofa series of openings 11 in said arm, whereby the link may be adjusted toregulate the throw of the shaft as circumstances require.

At the inner or opposite end of the shaft from the arm 7 is a secondshorter arm 12 to which is connected a crank member 13, said memberbeing vertically arranged and provided in its upper end with a taperingor substantially pear-shaped slot 14: made of round iron and having atits lower end a partially circular seat portion 15 beveled on bothinside edges. The slot 1a receives the free end of the rudder arm 4:,which, when the rudder is arranged in a neutral position, lies withinthe seat 15, said arm being adapted to play within the slot 14: as thecrank member is rocked forwardly or rearwardly, so that it willaccommodate itself to the different angular positions of said crankmember without binding or leaving the arm 4 loose so as to permitindependent movements of the rudder.

It will be understood from the foregoing backward or forward from itsnormal or neutral position the rudder 2 may be swung to any desiredangle in either direction from its normal position to steering the boat.In this operation the arm 4 is free to play in the slot 14:, as abovedescribed, so that a free and quick movement and adjustment of the partsmay be obtained, obviating all liability of the parts binding upon oneanother or permitting the rudder to have independent play. The crankmember 13 is preferably adj ustably connected with the arm 12- so thatthe movement of the rudder arm 1 in the slot 14L may be regulated toaccord with any variations in the throw of said arm through theadjustable connection between the link (3 and crank arm 7. To this endthe crank member is formed upon one of its faces with flanges 16providing a guideway to receive the arm 12, which is connected with thecrank member by a bolt 17 adapted to engage any one of a series ofopenings in the crank member, whereby the described range ofadjustability is secured.

In the modified form of our invention shown in Fig. 4:, the constructionof the connecting members between the rudder and rudder operatingmechanism is reversed, that is to say, the arm P is provided with a slot14a conforming in structure to the slot 14L, while the member 13 extendsforwardly in the form of an extension from the arm 12 and extendsthrough the slot, enabling the same operation to be obtained. It will beunderstood that the invention contemplates broadly an operatingconnection between the rudder and actuating means embodying a rod or armassociated with one and engaging a slotted member associated descriptionthat upon swinging the lever with the other, and that the elementsmentioned may be arranged in either of the ways specified.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the operatingmechanism may be arranged on either side of the boat and that it will bein convenient position to be adjusted to swing the rudder. Also .that itenables a quick adjustment of the rudder to be secured and the rudder tobe held firmly in any of its positions of adjustment.

Having thus described the invention, we claim 1. The combination of arudder having a post or stem, an operating mechanism including a rockshaft, and connections between the post or stem and rock shaft embodyingan engaging member on one part and a slot-ted member on the other partreceiving said engaging member.

2. The combination of a rudder having a post or stem, an arm carried bysaid post or stem, an operating mechanism including a rock shaft, and anarm carried by said rock shaft, one of said arms being formed with aslot receiving the other arm.

3. The combination of a rudder having a post or stem, an arm connectedwith said 1 post or stem, a rock shaft, means for actuating said shaft,and a crank member carried by the shaft and having a slot receiving saidarm.

The combination of a rudder having a post or stem, an arm carried bysaid post or stem, an operating mechanism including a rock shaft, and acrank member adjustably connected with said shaft and having a slotreceiving said arm.

5. The combination of a rudder having a post or stem, a crank shaftprovided with arms at the opposite ends thereof, an arm upon the rudderstem, an operating lever, a link adjustably connecting said lever withone of the arms of the rock shaft, and a crank member adj ustablyconnected with the other arm of the rock shaft and having a slottedportion receiving the arm on the rudder stem.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

DENNIS HIGGINS. JOHN IV. IRONS.

Witnesses T. F. HANNAFIN, L. H. GAARDER.

